Innovative compact hybrid storage systems for low energy buildings
Author: regis.decorme@r2msolution.com
R2M Solution is an integrated and multi-disciplinary consulting company that aggressively targets filling the gap between research activities and market implementation. We excel at helping companies grow and acting as an accelerator for bringing technologies and services to the market across the fields of Innovation Management, Engineering, Energy, and ICT/Automation. We invest in opportunities, conduct research, and offer pure engineering, energy services, and ICT consulting services. We actively seek spinoff creation opportunities, showcase promising technologies and build clusters for their uptake.
Our joint workshop will highlight some of the key innovative technologies being developed and tested through the participating projects. For HYBUILD, this will include a focus on the following ones :
Advanced PCM (Phase Change Material) thermal storage modules for direct integration in the refrigerant cycle;
DC (Direct Current) bus controller solution for heat pump market;
Innovative adsorber: Adsorption Heat exchanger with high surface area.
The workshop Renewable Heating and Cooling Solutions for Buildings and Industry at Sustainable Places 2020 brought together a selection of H2020 EU-funded projects involving experts from the biomass, geothermal, solar thermal, and heat pump sectors to discuss a common strategy for increasing the use of renewable energy technologies for heating and cooling for buildings and industry.
Our partner AIT – the Austrian Institute of Technology – contributed to a national workshop on Thursday, 26th of November 2020, at the ENOVA-conference.
The aim of the workshop was to identify and rank market barriers for “comfort climate boxes” (integrated heat pump solutions) with national stakeholders. This work is part of the IEA HPT Annex 55, where HYBUILD was already presented back in June this year.
The HYBUILD Continental System was presented as part of the contribution to this event.
On 29th October 2020, HYBUILD organised and contributed to the largest workshop of Sustainable Places 2020 with 14 other sister-projects. Watch again the recording of this session !
On 29th October 2020, HYBUILD participated to the Integrated Storage Systems for Residential Buildings workshop at Sustainable Places 2020. Watch again the session !
HYBUILD coordinator COMSA has developed simplified BIM models of the Spanish Almatret demo site to support the installation of the hybrid storage system which is progressing.
Almatret Installation – 3D-rendering (1)
Almatret Installation – 3D-rendering (2)
Almatret Installation – 3D-rendering (3)
Almatret Installation – 3D-rendering (4)
Almatret Installation – 3D-rendering (5)
Almatret Installation – 3D-rendering (6)
Follow the progress of the Spanish installation as well as the 2 other HYBUILD pilot sites in Cyprus and Austria on their photo albums here.
It is still time to join us at Sustainable Places by registering here !
HYBUILD is proud to have led the organisation of the Renewable Heating and Cooling Solutions for Buildings and Industry Workshop, in cooperation with 14 other sister-projects.
HYBUILD will also contribute to the Integrated Storage for Residential Buildings workshop led by the Ministor project.
A new journal paper presenting HYBUILD results has been released in the Energies journal.
The area-proportional baseline method generates phase fraction–temperature curves from heat capacity data of phase change materials. The curves describe the continuous conversion from solid to liquid over an extended temperature range. They are consistent with the apparent heat capacity and enthalpy modeling approach for the numerical solution of heat transfer problems. However, the curves are non-smooth, discrete signals. They are affected by noise in the heat capacity data and should not be used as input to continuous simulation models. This contribution proposes an alternative method based on spline approximation for the generation of consistent and smooth phase fraction–temperature, apparent heat capacity–temperature and enthalpy–temperature curves. Applications are presented for two commercial paraffins from Rubitherm GmbH considering heat capacity data from Differential Scanning Calorimetry and 3-layer-calorimetry. Apparent heat capacity models are validated for melting experiments using a compact heat exchanger. The best fitting models and the most efficient numerical solutions are obtained for heat capacity data from 3-layer-calorimetry using the proposed spline approximation method. Because of these promising results, the method is applied to melting data of all 44 Rubitherm paraffins. The computer code of the corresponding phase transition models is provided in the Supplementary Information.
The conservation and rehabilitation of buildings of vernacular architecture is a sustainable approach, not only because it leaves a small ecological footprint, compared to the erection of new buildings, but also due to the passive bioclimatic design features integrated in vernacular buildings. This paper will investigate the thermal performance of vernacular architecture in lowland area in diverse climatic contexts.
HYBUILD demo site in Aglantzia, Cyprus
The findings of the current research are based on an on-site investigation carried out in a representative vernacular building that is going to be upgraded to a hands-on technology exhibition area of renewable energy systems complimented with visual means to enhance the experience of visitors under a Research European Programme (Horizon 2020). The current study provides a basis for the formulation of a site-specific design strategy to improve thermal conditions and achieve energy conservation within lowland constructions in diverse climatic conditions. Understanding and analysing the thermal behaviour of these spaces is the first step towards this strategy. The quantitative analysis reveals the various challenges faced and opportunities provided by lowland structures and contributes to informing current design policies. Moreover, the analysis will inform the sizing of the technical systems throughout the year.
Work is ongoing at the Langenwang Austrian pilot, to prepare the installation of the HYBUILD hybrid storage system.
The continental climate system will be installed at this pilot site. The maximum heating power consumption expected after the foreseen retrofitting operations is 10 kW. The following technologies will be applied in the building: PV, PCM thermal latent storage, Heat pump.
Drone flight for PV planningCooling ceiling installationElectrical preparation for PV integrationPreparation for the heat pump outdoor unitTechnical room entrance
